Check the standings.
Check the national rankings.
Now, check the quarterbacks.
You'll find a pattern, not a coincidence.
Alabama, Florida and Georgia are flying the SEC flag the highest in the 2008 football season.
Either the Gators or Bulldogs will almost certainly represent the East in the SEC championship game. Second-ranked Alabama has the upper leg, not only in the SEC West, but also for a berth in the BCS championship game.
Rewind the calendar to July and name the three SEC quarterbacks who, based on experience and production, stood above the rest.
n Tim Tebow of Florida. Obviously. He's the guy with the Heisman Trophy on his mantle.
n Matthew Stafford of Georgia. He'll start his 29th game Saturday at LSU.
n John Parker Wilson of Alabama. His 34th start comes Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
"Right now, he's operating as well as anybody in this league and we've got some really fine quarterbacks in this league,'' Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis said Tuesday of Wilson.
Actually, there are just a few really fine quarterbacks in the SEC this year - at least when it comes to combining talent and experience.
If Auburn had anyone on the level of Tebow, Stafford or Wilson, it would be a championship contender.
Tennessee would likely be 5-2, at worst, instead of 3-4 if Erik Ainge were still around for a fifth year.
South Carolina would be better than 5-3 if, say, Stafford had signed with the Gamecocks instead of the Bulldogs three years ago.
But that's all wishful thinking. LSU (5-1) is the only team that might have enough talent elsewhere to overcome inexperience at quarterback and win a championship.
Until Alabama stormed through the first half of this season, Wilson, a senior, didn't draw many comparisons to Tebow or Stafford. He certainly got UT's attention, though, when he torched the Vols in a 41-17 win last year, passing for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
"He was up and down,'' Chavis said. "He's having a great year this year.
"You saw him go from being a talented guy last year to being a guy that's not only talented but in full control of what they're doing.''
In the past few weeks, Wilson has become Alabama's all-time leader in passing yardage and touchdowns. A sure sign of maturity, he has completed 68.3 percent of his passes in three road games.
He ranks No. 3 in the SEC in passing efficiency, behind - you guessed it - Tebow and Stafford.
Again, it's no coincidence that Florida, Alabama and Georgia rank 1-2-3 in the league in scoring offense.
"All three of those guys have one thing in common,'' Chavis said. "They've got some great personnel around them.
"We may see the best offensive line Saturday we're going to see and that certainly makes it a lot easier for the quarterback to do what he can do.''
Chavis and Tennessee have to try to make it hard for the quarterback. Cut off the head, the saying goes, and the body dies.
So far the Vols are 0-for-2. Despite Tebow's modest stats (96 yards passing, 26 rushing), Florida beat UT handily last month. Two weeks ago Stafford balanced 310 passing yards against two interceptions in a comfortable Georgia win.
Alabama is a solid favorite Saturday and one of the reasons why is quarterback. Wilson's 33 career starts are 30 more than Nick Stephens.
"I've been pleased with Nick, for a first-time starter,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "There's another level he can make and you see progress being made that way.''
Wilson will be gone next year. Tebow and Stafford, both juniors, might leave early for the NFL.
If so, the advantage will shift in 2009. Perhaps Stephens, or LSU's Jarrett Lee, or Jevan Snead at Ole Miss, or any of several others, will emerge as the productive veterans able to elevate their team.
There will be a way to tell who has stepped forward. Check the standings.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 33
wkjq#213863 writes:
With a years exp. maybe Stephens can carry the torch next year.
TommyJack writes:
Strange could be lookin at a Pulitzer for this analysis.
hotrodvol writes:
Let us hope Chavis doesn't let John David Sarah Jessica Parker Wilson look like an all American this year, please play tighter coverage and don't wear a dress.
blitzshoot writes:
genious
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I would rate the SEC QB's as Stafford then Tebow then John Parker House Rolls Fitzsimmons Wilson.
The rest, well......
MarbleVol48 writes:
Wilson is by far the best QB in the league. Stafford 2nd.
Tebow best linebacker/FB
murrayvol writes:
Or a Wolf Blitzer.
warhammer writes:
There is only one problem with this analysis. Even though JP Wilson looked like a Heisman candidate on the Third Saturday in October last season, he has not been spectacular for most of his career. I am not trying to downplay his performance He has managed the ball well for a very good run-oriented offense. If you look at the numbers, Alabama is actually behind Tennessee in total passing yards and Wilson has only had three more touchdown throws than Crompton and Stephens combined. Like I said, he has managed it well, but they haven't really won a game on his arm so far this season. Hopefully he won't repeat his performance last year with us witnessing him light up the scoreboard in Knoxville.
murrayvol writes:
He may not be the worst but he's in the photo.
murrayvol writes:
The only problem w/this analysis re Tennessee is we play them Saturday and he's not likely to make very many mistakes.
If our offense can avoid the ever popular 3 and out, the defense may keep us in the game. At least I hope so.
blitzshoot writes:
If I had to make up a football team in the SEC, I would start with Tebow. The same way on defense I would start with Berry. They both have passion that is not matched
on the field this year or next.
Volomatic writes:
Always a Gator around to defend Clippy
tenuscvol writes:
good points...
He does play well on the road but I don't see him lighting it up like last year....at least I hope not...
ncvol writes:
This is a strange article titled "Quarterbacks make difference in SEC". Now my point is : quarterbacks make a difference in all conferences.
Living in NC, I was hoping that Crompton would be the man this year. Sadly, that didn't work out. So it is Stephens that will lead our team to victory. He is doing a good job so far.
Let's hope Stephens has the best game of his life this weekend.......
Go Vols !
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Don't make me laugh!!! Personally , I'd just like to see just how good this Alabama quarterback is. But not at our expense, of course. If we beat him while he is at his best, well then, it goes to our credit. He certainly looks good enough to keep their offense on the field for long periods of time. This is, plain and simple, not acceptable. Good, no great, defense is at its best at Neyland Stadium, and we need some of the giants of the past to cast their giants shadows there Sat. night. If we all just want to win this game more than Alabama, we just might as well do it.
sameolvolalum writes:
Nice point, Mr. Strange. I'm glad you brought this to light. We just lost a potential quarterback star a couple of weeks ago. Hey UT fans. I know it won't do any good but, anytime you boo, you're showing your rear ends. fans can have class, too. Go Vols, forever!
ravensearay writes:
I live in Alabama... I have to listen to these Bama people all the time. They make me sick with the love afair that they have with JPW. I've had to watch this kid since high school in Hoover, AL. This is all they want to talk about down here is how JPW owns TN. He is not that good...
Please, please, please shut them up !!!!!!!
Go Vols.....Beat Bama....Whatever it takes!!!
eb502us#225637 writes:
The title of this article should read "Contenders have SEC Caliber QB's, other's like UT don't"
It's painfully obvious that we don't have an SEC caliber QB on the roster.
Crompton was a mental bust, and Stephens isn't much better.
Our receivers have bailed out Stephens much more than he has helped them. Last week was a prime example. An underthrown deep ball to Moore, and a great 4th down catch by Taylor on a ball thrown behind him. And those were balls Stephens is getting credit for making in the media.
If you go back and watch almost every game Stephens has played, he has made one bad decision and one bad throw after another. How many times has he thrown into double or triple coverage only to be lucky enough not to have it intercepted?
Did we all suddenly forget about an important 3rd down pass last week that was skipped to a wide open receiver? How about the one to Rodgers that that should have been a touchdown but was badly overthtrown?
Look, nobody is perfect, but executing the simplist of passes and making the right decisions has been a struggle for Stephens. Much of this is coaching as well.
Look, I really have no desire to pick on a college QB as he's doing the best he can, but our QB situation is the poster child for how far this program has fallen.
richvol writes:
Tennessee has shown repeatedly that we either cannot or will not play man coverage. Additionally, we don't bump the opposing receivers coming off the line in order to mess up their timing.
Wilson is not the best athlete nor does he have the strongest arm, but he can scramble and he is very accurate. Add to that Alabama's talented receivers and we are in for a long day. Our only chance is to sack him and play tight man coverage. We can beat Bama, but I don't think our secondary has been given the tools,through proper coaching,that they need to succeed.
w4tey#282182 writes:
Can Crompton play another position? Tennessee needs to get the ball in the hands of as many people with as much talent as possible. It's a shame he didn't make it a QB but maybe he can get a new life on the field in another role?
blitzshoot writes:
One thing for sure, they will be bringing a blitz on every down and getting after Stephens. Hopefully the OL is practicing "physical" this week because it will be Saturday night.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree completely! It is almost as if Chavis thinks that just because our current crop of QB's can't make routine throws, nobody else can, either. So we mostly give a pro-forma rush of three or four guys, drop everybody else into (passive) zone coverage and "dare" the unmolested QB to find the (inevitable) open man. Which of course he does, and the chains keep moving right into the end zone. If I've seen it once, I've seen it a hundred times and I'm sick of it!!!
GoVol writes:
Wilson will not make it in the NFL, but his mom sure is a looker -WOW, she's hot!
shoalcreekvol writes:
Dood, iff ure goin to replie that weigh at leest spel "G-E-N-I-U-S" rite!
tyler1 writes:
i dont know why people think john is the worst QB in the league, i dont think he handled the games well but UT would have the exact same record if he would have stayed in and he would of made progress. like ive seen nick has not done much better his receivers have gotten better and made him look better. you could use john at receiver or running back look at the 18 yd run he made against auburn to keep a job alive he needs to be playing .why dont they use 2 QBS LIKE LSU IT WOULD WORK.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Just not a position where he touches the ball, cause we've seen how that turns out. And not a position where he might have to recover a fumble, as we've seen that he really can't do that.
That pretty much just leaves blocking, and we have seen that his best quality is his willingness to drive his upright body into an oncoming defender in what can only be described as a white-boy-train-wreck. If he's that willing to use his body as a target to divert the oncoming missile/DB, I say we use him!
blitzshoot writes:
Thhink yu
jasonn1970 writes:
The QB prospect who's visiting this weekend is better than Nunes. Maybe this worked out for the best.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
The only place JPW can go throwing the ball is the middle of the field. So Eric, tighten that chin strap and lay some friggin wood. Linebackers, when they cross your line of sight, greet em. Our corners will lock em down and if they try to stretch it with Jones, Mr. Berry should take care of that. Its the running game we have to step up and take away. Flow to the ball guys. Tackle on first attempt at the carrier and it will be a long night for the Mullet lovers
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
Nice....I didnt have the heart to do it...lol
blitzshoot writes:
I must write with a lisp??
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
I wont judge you buddy....lol
shoalcreekvol writes:
Don't know you well enough to answer that, but you obviously can't spell.
Genius.
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